Kolkata Trams

Trams operated by Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC), since its inception in 1902, has occupied an important place in the heart of Kolkatans. It is a symbol of the busy and fast moving life of Kolkata. Today Kolkata Trams serves as the oldest operating tram in Asia and perhaps the only one in India.

Kolkata Trams - Past & Present

In the year 1873, it was decided to run the Calcutta Tramways Service between Armenian Street Ghat and Sealdah but it was given a cold shoulder i.e. there were a very few commuters and hence the service was discontinued in the month of November. Later, in the year 1880 Kolkata Tram Way Company Ltd. was registered in London . Horse drawn meter gauge tram tracks were drawn from Sealdah to Armenian street through Strand Road, Dalhousie square and Bow Bazaar Street and was inaugurated by Lord Ripon. Approximately one hundred and sixty six tram cars, a thousand horses and seven stream locomotives were spread across nineteen miles of tram track. The electrification of tramways started at the beginning of 19th century and metre gauge were shifted standard track and Kolkata Tram was run for the first time from Esplanade to Kiddopore. In 1904, the route from Esplanade to Bagbaazar via College street was opened. In the year 1943, Kolkata system of tram was connected to Howrah , which was a major transition , thereby making the total length of tram approximately 70 kilometres.

The Government of West Bengal and Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) entered into an agreement with each other in the year 1951, which led to the enactment of Calcutta Tramways Act of 1951.The Act empowered The Government of West Bengal to purchase the entire system within a two year notice after the year 1st of January,1972.The historical ordinance was passed in the year 1967, when the government assumed rights over Calcutta Tramways and in the year 1976, the entire system was unified with the government.

Popular Tram Routes

Though slow moving, this medium of transportation is very popular amongst the locals and tourists visiting Kolkata . You can find it passing through the crowded streets. Today Calcutta Tramways Company with a fleet of 257 trams is making traveling and trasporation much easy in the city of joy.T hey are 17.5 metres long and 2.1 meters wide trams are divided into compartments. Each compartment with wide entrance has a seating capacity of 62. In total it can carry loads of 200 passengers.

Belgatchia to Esplanade, Via R.G.Kar Rd – Bidhan Sarani – College Street – Nirmal Ch. Street – Lenin Sarani

Shyambazar to Esplanade, Via Bidhan Sarani – College Street – Nirmal Ch. Street – Lenin Sarani

Bidhan Nagar to BBD Bag, Via C.I.T. Rd. – Maniktala Main Rd. – A.P.C Rd. – Surya Sen St. – Raja Rammohan Roy Sarani – B.B. Ganguly Street – Lalbazar Street

Gariahat to Howrah Bridge, Via Ballygunge Phari, Park Circus, Mullick Bazar, Moulali, Sealdah, College Street, Mahatma Gandhi Road

Tollygunge - Esplanade, Via Rashbehari, Hazra, Gopal Nagar, Mominpur, Kidderpore, Maidan

Over one hundred and twenty five Kolkata trams run every day in Kolkata out of the total two hundred and fifty seven trams which the government owns. The Kolkata trams have approximately sixty seats inside them and carry a passenger load of two hundred at least during the entire journey. Most of the trams were bought from the English Electric Company and Dick Kerr and Company till the year 1952 after which the production started being in India.

Only single Decker trams were used initially. Double Decker trams like in Mumbai have never been used in Kolkata trams and usage of triple decker trams has been extremely unsuccessful. There were several types of rolling stocks used in trams namely Old SLC type, SLC type, Articulated and Renovated SLC type, New Cars and Single Bogie type.

Just a few years back, modern trams almost like the ones found in the developed nations were built. Fitted with fluorescent lights, back and front glass, Radio , Digital boards etc. and they are new entrants in the arena . Proposals are being floated to built trains with amenities such as restaurants and fully air-conditioned facilities. The latest addition is one such tram which offers a tour of the entire Kolkata city.

Today with seven depots and nine terminals trams are serving the purpose of transportation in a better manner.

Kolkata Tram Fares

Trams1st class – Rs. 4 & Rs. 5.00 (depending on distance)
2nd class – Rs. 3.5 & Rs. 4 (depending on distance)
2nd class (With fan attached) – Rs. 4 & Rs. 5.00 (depending on distance)

Kolkata Tram Timings

The timings of electric trams are:
8-30---11-30 A.M. (during October to February)
7-30---10-00A.M. (during April to September)

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Sushma Jha from Kanpur 1268 Days ago

I came on this page while searching old mode of transportation for my history class and i came at this page and i am really surprised to know that tram is still going on in Kolkata. I think this is the alone city in India. I have planned to vsit Kolkata in this summer vacation

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